Great Sand Dunes, however, you can explore however you wish on 30 square miles (77.7 sq km) of dunefield, which is also the perfect place for some sled and sandboard fun. If you feel like sticking to a marked trail you can do that, too, in the forests and alpine areas surrounding the dunes. You can even bring your horses and pack animals!
I spy with my little eye, the tiny figures of two hikers climbing the dunes, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve / Rebecca Latson
Hiking
Before going into trail specifics, here’s a little advice about hiking the dunes: wear boots and long pants. Yes, if it’s summer and sunny, you’d rather be wearing shorts and sandals. Seriously, though, boots and pants work best to keep the sand out of your shoes, your feet from being rubbed raw by sand trapped in those shoes, and the possibility of burning your feet on that 150-degree F (65.6oC) sand. That’s right – despite the balmy summer air temperatures around you, that sand can get really, really, hot!
Oh, and, there’s thunderstorms during the summer, too. While they may be spectacular to view, getting struck by lightning could put a damper on an otherwise fun day.
So, park staff advise hiking the dunes early in the morning or in the evening to avoid hot sand, lightning strikes, and heat exhaustion. Bring plenty of water with you, too! There are no oases in the dunefield.
On the dunefield, you may explore where ever you wish and climb as high as you want. While all the dunes may look the same, differing only in height, there are specific dunes to aim for, such as High Dune on First Ridge, Hidden Dune, Star Dune, or the Eastern Dune Ridge.
Running full tilt down dune, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve / Rebecca Latson
High Dune is about 688 feet (209 m) from base to top. Cross a half-mile (1km) of the Medano Creek bed, then zigzag up along ridgelines to reach it. GPS coordinates for High Dune on First Ridge:
37.74908, -105.532775.
Hidden Dune is the tallest dune in North America, at 741 feet (225 m). It’s also remote and you can’t see it from most of the visitor day use areas. Plan on 7 miles (11 km) round trip over 6 hours, starting from the main Dunes Parking Lot. Hike north/northwest to reach it. GPS coordinates for Hidden Dune summit:
37.775916, -105.531912.
Star Dune is currently the second-tallest dune in North America, at 736 feet (224 m). From the Dunes Parking Lot, hike about 2 miles (3.2 km) south down the Medano Creek bed until the massive pyramid-shaped Star Dune comes into view. Follow a ridge to its summit. Average round trip hiking time for High Dune is 6 hours over 6 miles (9.6 km). GPS coordinates for Star Dune: 37.7517639, -105.5580583.
Eastern Dune Ridge is tall and steep. You can reach it using either a high clearance 4WD vehicle and driving to Sand Pit or Castle Creek Picnic Areas, or with a 2WD vehicle, driving to Point of No Return, then hike 3/4 mile (1.3km) to Sand Pit or 1.5 miles (2 km) to Castle Creek. Castle Creek Picnic Area offers an impressively tall, steep dune face. Both areas have access to Medano Creek, which usually flows gently through the months of fall in this area. The caveat is that, while this looks like the perfect location for sand sledding, it’s not recommended. The steep slopes of Eastern Dune Ridge end abruptly in the very firm, wet sand at Medano Creek. Unlike sledding over the gentler dunes near the visitor day use areas, if you tried to sled down the sand here, you’d likely crash and injure yourself.
If you are a little tired of the dunes and would like to hike somewhere a little cooler, these forest trails should do the job.
Note: If you hike any of these forest trails in the fall, hunting is permitted during legal seasons in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve, the higher mountainous areas above the dunes. Primary rifle season is during the fall. Check with a park ranger for details and remember to wear bright colors.
Montville Nature Trail – This half-mile (1 km) roundtrip trail will take you along a shady forested trail named for a late 1800s settlement, comprising 20 houses in its heyday. Rest near the trail's highpoint, where you'll find outstanding views of Mt. Herard, the dunes, and the valley.
Hiking along the Montville and Mosca Pass Trail, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve / NPS - Patrick Myers
Mosca Pass Trail – If you decide to continue past the Montville Nature Trail, you’ll find yourself on this 7-mile (11 km) roundtrip trail following a small creek to the summit of a low pass in the Sangre de Cristo mountains while winding through aspen and evergreen forests. Allow 2-3 hours to reach the pass. American Indians and early settlers used this route for travel into the valley.
Sand Ramp Trail - This 11-mile trail is most used as a route to access various backpacking sites along the foothills, rather than as a destination trail for scenery, since it stays at the same elevation along the base of the mountains. Begin hiking the Sand Ramp Trail in Loop 2 of the campground or at Point of No Return Parking area. After the first two miles, much of this trail is sandy soil or pure sand, up and down along the foothills, so this hike can be grueling. Allow for more time than the mileage indicates.
Feel the urge to hike higher but don’t want the extra work of maneuvering over sand? Check out these alpine trails offered at the park.
Note: These trails are reached using a 4WD vehicle. During your hike, there may be downed trees along these trails. While you may be able to maneuver over/around them, your horse may not.
Medano Lake and Mount Herard – Medano Lake Trailhead is accessed from the Medano Pass 4WD road. Beginning at 10,000 feet (3,048 m) elevation, the trail climbs 2000 feet (609.6 m) through lush meadows and forests, ending at an alpine lake at timberline. For advanced hikers, continue to the summit of 13,297-feet (4,053 m) Mount Herard for a spectacular aerial view of the dunes.
Music Pass, Sand Creek Lakes, Other Alpine Peaks – If you feel like taking a little drive away from the Great Sand Dunes visitor center for some views and hikes of alpine meadows and flowers, there are other trails to tackle. A 2 1/2-hour drive from the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center with a 4WD vehicle, and an 8-mile (13 km) round trip hike are required to reach Sand Creek Lakes. However, the alpine scenery is worth the effort, especially in mid-summer when patches of snow are still present on the peaks and flowers dot meadows and tundra. Check with a ranger for conditions before travel. Snow may block these trails from November into June. Lower Sand Creek Lake or Upper Sand Creek Lake is 8 miles (13 km) roundtrip, and Little Sand Creek Lakes is a 16-mile (26 km) roundtrip hike.
Check out this page for more detailed information about hiking at Great Sand Dunes.
Sand Sledding And Sandboarding The Dunes
Sandboarding down a dune, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve / NPS - Patrick Myers
Visitors use all sorts of things to slide down that soft dune sand, from inflatable kiddie pools to pieces of large cardboard boxes. But how well do each of these things work?
According to park staff (and they should know, right?):
Sandboards and sand sleds are specifically made for sand, featuring a special design with extra slick base material and special wax; these work best for sliding in most conditions.
Snow sleds, snowboards and skis only slide on very wet sand after rain or snow. The sand surface is usually dry.
Cardboard, saucers, and soft plastic items don't slide on sand; they will dig into or drag on the sand.
Rectangles of rigid, ultra-slick plastic or masonite might slide, but are not safe: there is no way to control or steer them, and their angled edges could cause injuries.
The park doesn’t rent sand sleds or sandboards, so you’ll either need to pack them with you, or you can rent them from one of five places around the park:
Oasis Store 719-378-2222, located 4 miles south of the park, rents both sandboards and sand sleds for $20 per day, plus tax. Open spring through early fall.
Sand Sled Rentals, a part of Dune Valley Distillery, Restaurant and Bar, Grocery, and Events Center, is located 23 miles away from the park and is open year-round.
Spindrift Sandboards 719-379-4410, located in Blanca, 25 miles southeast of the park visitor center, rents both sandboards and sand sleds spring through early fall for $20 per day, plus tax.
Sand Dunes Swimming Pool and Recreation 719-378-2807, located 32 miles from the park in Hooper, Colorado, rents sand sleds and sandboards year-round for $19 per day plus tax.
Kristi Mountain Sports 719-589-9759, located in Alamosa 38 miles from the park, rents sand sleds and sandboards year-round for $20 per day plus tax. Closed on Wednesdays. If the sand is frozen or snow-covered, Kristi will not rent either item to protect the special slick material on the bottom of each board.
Horses and Pack Animals
Yes, you can bring your horse or pack animals, and it’s a cool way to travel around and view the park. There are certain things you need to know beforehand, however, including where you can and cannot take your horses and pack animals. Click on the title link above for more detailed information.
